I always find these lists interesting, but here’s the idea: "There are game-changers and then there are world-changers. From Internet giants working to make renewable energy cheaper than coal, to a sea captain monitoring the ocean’s plastic waste, to the growth of intentional communities (they’re not just for hippies anymore)—welcome to Plenty’s second annual list honoring (in no particular order) 20 dynamic individuals and 20 pioneering companies that are bettering the planet, plus 10 innovative ideas that will revolutionize how we live."

There’s kind of an edgy, underground movement of conscious homeowners and environmentalists that are finding creative ways to capture water and reuse it for their needs. BusinessWeek’s Malia Wollan just wrote an article called "Rainwater collectors work to ease shortages," and she talks about the popularity of the movement. In the article, Wollan mentions a website called HarvestH20, which has seen an increasing number of visitors seeking information and advice on rainwater collection and reclamation.

So the big day is September 8, 2008 — the day Mr. Thomas Friedman’s next book goes on sale. It’s called Hot, Flat, and Crowded: Why We Need a Green Revolution–And How It Can Renew America. I have a feeling it’s going to be good, too, but I can’t pinpoint why. Maybe it’s because Friedman does a lot of research and assesses that research with a fresh perspective. Maybe it’s because he says new stuff — he’s not necessarily regurgitating what we hear everyday. Maybe it’s because he takes a strong position. Whatever it is, I have a stack of great books that I’ve been trying to get through, but this one will likely make it to the nightstand.

The venerable HuffPo just posted a list of what they call the "Best Green Twitter Feeds." It’s an okay list, but when you name streams like @Sprig (13 total updates and nothing in 7 days), @globalwarming (sporadic tweets with nothing in 7 days), and @greennews (sporadic tweets and nothing in 12 days), it’s tough to take the list seriously. No offense Sprig, GlobalWarming, and GreenNews. HuffPo’s list includes some stalwarts, don’t get me wrong, but when you assume the title of "Best," you have to bring it. You have to name more than sixteen or seventeen Twitter* feeds. Right?

Anyway, here’s my list (not a "best" list, just a list) of environmental and green related twitter folks that you might be interested in following. To clear the air, we’re @jetsongreen. Some of the following are no different than straight blog feeds. Some are mixed blog feeds with conversation. Others are pure conversation.

The NAHB rolled out its Certified Green Professional ("CGP") program earlier this year and already 1,000 builders, remodelers, and other members of the home building industry have earned the CGP educational designation. Potential CGPs must complete 24 hours of classroom training, of which, 16 hours must be qualified green building instruction. In addition, potential CGPs must have two years industry experience, sign a code of ethics, and commit to fulfilling continuing education requirements.

Keep your eyes out for the newest tool designed to rate cities in their efforts to push environmental stewardship. The STAR Community Index is like LEED, but it’s designed to rate local governments. With myriad green city rankings and websites trying to calculate the sustainability of local governments,* it’s high time for a highly respected, standardized formula for measuring a community’s sustainability. According to ICLEI, the STAR Program will create a process, not unlike LEED, to bring in leaders in the field toward the goal of establishing shared measures and processes for greening communities. STAR will have tiered levels, with the aim to accomplish the following: